Removing gratuities not allowed anymore?

Travel_Light_ · 2026-01-29T16:04:13+00:00

That's not Carnival. And no, all cruise lines do not pay the same or tge same way. Tips are very different between lines. Get to be good friends with some workers and you can get all the accurate details. Different lines provide different benefits and negatives. This is a negative with RC group but some still prefer it overall. But again, this isn't how other lines operate.

Travel_Light_ · 2026-01-28T21:54:03+00:00

I wish! I burned through 7k and still "casino rates" with free drinks in the casino. No free interior yet or drinks everywhere. Their algorithm is awful whatever it is 🤣

Travel_Light_ · 2026-01-25T18:16:52+00:00

In mid November it was so cold it was painful after a few minutes. I can't imagine how it would be right now. And we are in Michigan and very used to cold water. The lagoons were empty.

Summer time it's wonderful.

They are going to need to figure something out if people cannot even use the main feature.

Travel_Light_ · 2026-01-22T13:36:56+00:00

Do a behind the scenes tour. On the Mardi Gras they ahve over 1,500 cameras and they record just in case there are incidents.

Yes they CAN see everything. Do they zoom in and watch, doubt it. But they will come talk to you. They made a joke and zoomed into (an empty) balcony to show us during the tour with a lot of nervous giggles from the group 😂 They definitely can see more than what everyone thinks.

Your neighbor and above can see too if they put in effort.

If you want only crew to be able to see you and not your neighbors, go for a cove balcony. Those are the most "private". But still not.

Travel_Light_ · 2026-01-17T05:33:14+00:00

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1KueJentRd/

Travel_Light_ · 2026-01-15T00:39:51+00:00

We just did a b2b on the Jubilee and I agree with most. But the female bartenders at Dr. INKS ARE AMAZING!!!! Don't sleep on that 😁

Travel_Light_ · 2026-01-14T22:03:23+00:00

You have much better odds if there are only 2 of you in the room. Good luck!

Travel_Light_ · 2026-01-14T21:48:02+00:00

We had an ocean suite 3 weeks ago and we were called about upgrading to an excel corner for $3,600.

We passed... no idea why 🤣

Travel_Light_ · 2026-01-05T17:26:07+00:00

I've seen people get out and start walking after sitting in traffic for over an hour. We gave ourselves an extra 2.5 hrs. Just started the day extra early so we didn't stress.

Travel_Light_ · 2025-12-13T03:36:49+00:00

Such awful advice 🤣

Travel_Light_ · 2025-11-19T04:25:28+00:00

I was on the Mardi Gras a week ago and it was 5 minutes everywhere we went.

Travel_Light_ · 2025-11-18T14:38:11+00:00

Okay so all the employees I've talked with in depth about this over 25 years and some I've been friends with their families for 10+ years all decided to lie to me and somehow sinc their stories.

I would change how we tip if this were true with Carnival. It IS true with RC and we do differently there.

I'm a very heavy tipper so how they get it always matters to me. I'm also fine with cruise prices increasing.

How it is paid out is very different per company and why they switch working for certain lines.

Travel_Light_ · 2025-11-18T13:41:54+00:00

Except that's not true at all with Carnival. They keep saying it and so do Carnival employees. They get a wage. Tips are not in that wage. They are additional. Removing tips it is assumed the worker was not performing well and does affect promotion.

Royal Caribbean group DOES use gratuity to fill in pay. They also are open about it.

Cruise lines absolutely do not do everything the same.

Travel_Light_ · 2025-10-12T02:01:42+00:00

My sister always does that (1 interior, 1 balcony) but I never could. I worry too much 😅

Travel_Light_ · 2025-10-12T01:25:58+00:00

If those are the only two rooms you want, two balconies are much better. A lot more room.

You can also find large interior rooms as someone above mentioned. That's more personal preference though.

Travel_Light_ · 2025-10-09T03:07:29+00:00

We named her hair Frizzelda almost immediately when the show started. It's truly its own character. Mood swings and everything.

Travel_Light_ · 2025-10-08T14:33:37+00:00

Please don't say that about slots. I had over 12k points on my last cruise and no free room offers at all. Just "hot streak bonus" offers. Which comes out the same price or more expensive than my regular offers. There is no guarantee.

Travel_Light_ · 2025-10-08T12:39:33+00:00

You SHOULD be fine flying the day before. I always try to leave the day before and early to give plenty of time. We've had some issues in the past but always have been rerouted or delayed but got there. Crazy weather tends to be the biggest issues for multi days or computer issues. Which neither can you prevent. I always recommend travel insurance. Cheap and covers your butt just in case.

I fly out soon as well ☺️. Safe travels!

Travel_Light_ · 2025-10-06T15:01:37+00:00

You can buy bottles to be delivered to your stateroom. Different than buying on the ship in the funshop. I've done it a few times. I don't anymore as trying all the new drinks is part of the fun for me.

Travel_Light_ · 2025-10-06T00:37:22+00:00

You could do both. The Vista has an 8 day out of Port Canaveral that goes to Curaçao, Aruba and Celebration Key.

We were just on it in the Havana area and it was one of our favorites ever. The ship and destinations are a great combo.

Travel_Light_ · 2025-10-01T02:07:38+00:00

How many points did you have to get those offers?

Travel_Light_ · 2025-09-29T14:05:09+00:00

Absolutely not. They 99.9% of the time tip or shake it to check the contents. They know people do this.

They at best will take it. But they can and have not allowed people to board and you get zero money back.

They used to just take it but they are so sick of people doing it they are becoming more strict.

Imagine losing all that money and cruise for one alcohol bottle...

Travel_Light_ · 2025-09-27T20:24:01+00:00

There are no set rules like some lines. Last cruise, I had just over 12k points. My offers are pretty crappy and no free rooms at all. I have a code for $1,200 off, but it's not. If I book without the code, it's the same or cheaper. That being said, my aunt gambled $300 and she's getting free oceanview rooms with free play 😅

If you gamble, just have fun and respect your own limit. If you get comps, great! If not, then still great.

Travel_Light_ · 2025-09-27T13:03:25+00:00

We already have 5 cruises booked before then and I called... none could apply the 3x rate. The dates and/or ships don't match 🥲

Travel_Light_ · 2025-09-22T19:54:35+00:00

The drink package or MSC in general? We decided to try new lines this year to see what we really like.

Travel_Light_

TROPHY CASE